LIVING WATER EPISODE 669 || 3RD  APRIL, 2026

By Solomon Uwumbolibe Mensah

WHEN GOD RESPONDS TO YOUR CRY


Scripture Reading: Judges 6:7-10

"When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian,  he sent them a prophet, who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” 


The children of Israel found themselves under oppression by the Midianites. Their harvests were destroyed, their economy collapsed, and fear ruled their lives. In their distress, they cried out to God.

And God answered but not the way they expected. Instead of immediately sending deliverance, God first sent a prophet with a message.

This teaches us something powerful: God does not just respond to our pain; He responds to our condition.

 

1. God Hears the Cry of His People: When the Israelites cried out to the Lord in their suffering under Midian, God heard them despite the fact that their cry came more from pain than true repentance. This reveals the depth of God’s mercy; He listens even when our motives are not perfect. Their distress pushed them to remember Him, showing that sometimes hardship becomes the very thing that redirects our hearts back to God. In the same way, no matter how far one has strayed, God remains attentive to the cry of His people, and every sincere call for help can open the door to divine intervention.

 

2. God Sends a Word Before Deliverance: Before God brought deliverance, He first sent a prophet with a message, showing that God values transformation over temporary relief. The Israelites expected rescue, but God addressed the root cause of their suffering instead. Their bondage was not just about external enemies but internal disobedience. This teaches that God often sends His Word ahead of His power, because without correction, the same cycle of oppression will repeat. Therefore, when God speaks into a situation, it is important to listen carefully, as His instruction is often the foundation for lasting breakthrough.

 

 

3. Remember What God Has Done:  God reminded Israel of His past deeds; bringing them out of Egypt, delivering them from slavery, and giving them a new land; because memory is essential to faithfulness. When people forget what God has done, they begin to drift away from Him and take His goodness for granted. Recalling God’s faithfulness strengthens trust and renews commitment. In life today, intentionally remembering testimonies and past victories helps to anchor the heart in gratitude and obedience, preventing spiritual decline.

 

4. Disobedience Opens the Door to Oppression: The Lord clearly pointed out that Israel’s disobedience was the reason for their oppression, as they had chosen to worship the gods of the Amorites instead of remaining faithful to Him. This shows that disobedience opens doors to bondage, especially when people begin to adopt values and practices that replace God in their lives. What started as compromise became captivity. In the same way, anything that takes God’s place; whether ambition, wealth, or human approval, can lead to spiritual oppression. True freedom is sustained through consistent obedience and wholehearted devotion to God.

 

 

5. God Confronts Before He Restores: God’s response included correction, not condemnation, demonstrating that His love is expressed through truth. By telling them, “you have not listened to me,” He exposed the real issue so that restoration could begin. God confronts in order to heal, and His correction is a pathway back to Him. Rather than resisting such moments, one should embrace them, recognizing that conviction is evidence of God’s ongoing work. Breakthrough often begins when there is humility to accept God’s truth and a willingness to change.

 

Israel cried for help, but God sent a message first. Because the real issue was not their enemies, the real issue was their disobedience and until that was addressed, true freedom could not come.

 

 

 

Call to Action

Ask yourself:

Today, God is not just hearing your cry; He is sending you a word; Will you listen?

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You because You hear us when we cry.
 Forgive us for the times we have not listened to You. Open our hearts to receive Your correction and Your truth. Remove every idol from our lives and restore us to true worship.
 Help us to walk in obedience so that we may experience lasting freedom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.